Hello Lisa.

Welcome back to yet another edition of THE PENCIL CASE! Each issue focuses on a theme to encourage a fresh look at garden design and graphics. It's been a stressful election season here in the United States, so I find myself looking for ways to find calm and balance. One relaxing activity I always enjoy is DRAWING. Maybe it will help center you too.♥︎

DRAWING TO RELAX 

Drawing can be a beautiful way to relax because it engages your mind and body in a creative and meditative process. Below are some ways the magic of your pencil can help reduce stress:

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Mindful Focus: Drawing requires concentration on the shapes, lines, and details of what you are creating, which can be similar to a form of mindfulness. You might even enter a "flow state" where you lose track of time and are fully engaged in the lovely moment at hand. 

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Sensory Pleasure: The physical act of drawing, such as the sensation of a pencil gliding over paper, can be soothing. Repeating patterns or gentle strokes can have a rhythmic, calming effect. This is what I love the most.

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Expressing Emotions: Though I often use drawing to communicate my garden design ideas, it can also be a way to express emotions that might be difficult to put into words. Drawing lets you channel your feelings onto paper, providing a sense of relief.

Creativity and Freedom: And the last way I enjoy drawing is how it provides freedom for us to create whatever we want...which feels so powerful and liberating. As a designer I love that my ideas can flow through my pencil onto paper to explore paving details, planting beds and garden structures. It's messy, conceptual, dreamy, and so much fun. Drawing allows you to explore your imagination without constraints, which can help lighten your mental load.

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I love drawing landscape design concepts without worrying about perfection, so made these GARDEN DOODLE SHEETS (link below)...so you can do the same. I provide the outline of a garden room design and you get to draw in the fun paving details and plants. Relax, dream and draw. Some of you may have explored these doodle sheets already, but feel free to jump back in and try a new design...while you center your creative mind.

LET'S DO THIS!

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DRAFTING SUPPLY CLUB

Would you like to learn about the tools I use when drawing? Three live classes will take place at noon US central time on November 19, 21 and 22. Enrollment opens soon and you're welcome to join our WAITING LIST to learn more.

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GARDEN GRAPHICS TOOL KIT

Would you like to deep dive into drawing? This 8-week course focuses on drawing different garden elements from paving to plants to pergolas and so much more. It's taught once a year and is coming up once again this January 2025. You're invited to join our WAITING LIST to learn more as it gets closer. 

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Perhaps you'd like to dive into design now? Join us for 100 days of design tips with our 10x10 SERIES.

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If you know someone that would benefit from this newsletter, please feel free to share. They can subscribe right here. I also keep a VAULT of past issues in this secret location.

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All my best to you,

Lisa

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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP

Thanks to Mandy Orgler for preparing the images in this newsletter.